Tom Cable

Two storied franchises meet Sunday at Soldier Field, both with championships in the distant past and a Super Bowl appearance in the recent past (the Raiders in 2002 and Bears in 2006). What has happened since for the Bears and Raiders isn't the same story, but it is the same trajectory: downward. Mediocre records, bad drafts and a parade of quarterbacks. A key difference this year, however, is the Raiders are showing signs of life while the Bears are still searching for some. Here is a comparison:

In 2002, the Raiders made it to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Buccaneers and their former coach Jon Gruden. Four seasons later, the Bears also reached the Super Bowl, but lost...